Queue Up: Ella Fitzgerald’s Blue Skies

When I woke up to a clear blue sky this morning, the song Blue Skies, was the first thing that crossed my mind. Well, it was really Peter’s snoring that was first, but then it was the song.

Little did I know, as I shed the black tight/rain pant combo and waterproof hiking shoes that I have been wearing for 10 days straight, the sky would turn to crap (that is the technical term for unanticipated weather). I know one of the big no-no’s of travel blogging is to talk about the weather or transportation….but my goodness, I’m just going to have to, this weather is loco (look at me Juliet, using my Spanish). The sky must be having a really long, extended period of menopause. Today it was sunny, hot, then windy, then rainy, then cold + windy + rainy, then hot, then rainy then super windy, back to pouring rain….I guess I don’t really need to keep going. But once you break a rule, it feels like you should go all in.

We started the day with a tour of the Alcazar – the royal palace in Seville. It is the oldest palace in Spain that is still in use. In fact, the royals stayed here last November, and as the guide started talking about what a handsome couple they were, Peter had to google them to confirm. I won’t go into his analysis, you can look up a picture of the king and queen of Spain and decide what you think. But I do think he is pretty cute in a mature gentleman kind of way.

Speaking of which, one of the most popular kings in Spain was Ferdinand – as in Isabella and Ferdinand. You know, the monarchs that were ruling when Columbus discovered America. If it wasn’t for girlfriend’s vast wealth (If I had to guess, I think Isabella was the money bags of the two), and her eye-raising affection for Columbus (I added that innuendo – but she did really seem to like the guy). If it wasn’t for her, I don’t think we would even know who he was, Columbus might never have discovered our great country.

But let’s not discount Ferdinand. He was popular too. The guide told us that a large percentage of males in Seville are named some derivation of Ferdinand. If you want to create mass pandemonium similar to yelling “Fire” in a crowded movie theater, just yell “Ferdinand!” In a crowded square.

While we are talking about not-so-kingly behavior, in the Alcázar the king created an opulent, highly decorated receiving room for foreign dignitaries. This room was dimly lit, and had a small, almost imperceivable step down at the entrance. This was to encourage less than dignified tripping or stumbling to establish the king’s upper hand. They really did think of every angle on diplomacy.

A side note: the tour guide industry has been completely transformed with these little gadgets they call “whispers”. I think tour guides are required to have them here. No more yelling over one another, or clustering around a single individual so you can hear. They set you up with a small receiver around your neck and an earbud. Then everyone talks normally, or even softer, and you get to roam around and look at stuff. Two problems: you can get too distracted and the when group moves on around the corner from you and you can’t see them, then you are scampering to find them (or in our case, Jim does a periodic count and finds you are missing and then sends out the search party), or the guide goes down a corridor and the walls are so thick the transmission cuts out. Net/net, I’m a huge fan, especially when they have the comfortable over the ear buds that our model Peter is illulstrating.

The guide also spent some time talking to us about Seville’s food culture. For example, “tapas” means “covered” in Spanish. It comes from an old practice to keep the flies out of your wine. You lay a piece of bread or ham over the top of your copa and then you eat it once you are finished with the wine. But don’t flies like bread and ham too? I like the idea of what tapas have become, but I’m not sure I would eat that bread after a bunch of flies had landed on it. #kindofpicky

Speaking of ham, she tried to convince us that Ibérica ham (the ham that comes from pigs fed only black acorns) was healthy. We have a cardiologist in the group, and I’m not sure if he would agree with that. Peter of course was “hell yes! I’m a believer”.

While I’m on the subject of food, I’d like to share a popular phrase here in Andalusia, “It’s good enough to dip bread in”. It means that you need bread to soak up every last bit of what is on your plate. It is considered the highest culinary compliment. I believe you should only use it within the context of food, otherwise you face the possibility of arrest.

Tonight is our last meal with the hiking, no hiking, group and then we are off on our own.

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